WasteForce Crime Alert #7

WasteForce Crime Alert #7 June- Aug 2020

The WasteForce project is funded by the European Union’s Internal Security Fund — Police (ISFP/2017/AG/ENV/821345)

Date: 31 Aug 2020

Version: 1

Work Package 2: Strategies and Methodologies

Deliverable 2.1: Waste Crime Alerts

Waste Crime Alert WasteForce

1

WASTEFORCE

Waste Crime Alert 7

Disclaimer

The information and content of this report is the sole responsibility of the WasteForce Consortium

members and does not necessarily represent the views expressed by the European Commission or its

services. The information contained in the Waste Crime Alert is taken from public sources, the author(s)

or any other participant in the WasteForce consortium make no warranty of any kind with regard to this

material.


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Contents 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3

2. Summary of new publications and legislative and governance updates. (Annex I) ........................ 3

3. Analysis of news cases (Annex II) ................................................................................................... 5

1. Types of waste and routes .......................................................................................................... 6

2. Quantities and values .................................................................................................................. 6

3. Modus operandi ........................................................................................................................... 7

4. Criminal organisations ................................................................................................................. 7

5. Summary of IGO Enforcement action, see also the overview in Annex III ................................. 8

6. Summary of media, see also the overview in Annex IV .............................................................. 8

Annex I: Publications and Legislative/Policy Updates ............................................................................. 9

Legislation and Governance ................................................................................................................ 9

News Articles ..................................................................................................................................... 10

Studies/Reports ................................................................................................................................. 13

Inspection summary .......................................................................................................................... 15

Annex II: Cases reported in the news ................................................................................................... 17

Annex III: IGO Enforcement Actions ..................................................................................................... 28

Annex IV: Videos and documentaries ................................................................................................... 29


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1. Introduction

The objective of the Waste Crime Alerts is to provide authorities with an up-to-date overview

of developments in the illicit waste trade. The Waste Force project partners collected and

analysed the latest information on waste crime to identify trends and possible threats of illegal

waste trade, for example to certain geographic locations/routes and the identification of modus

operandi for specific waste flows. The collected open source information includes news cases,

enforcement agency bulletins, outcomes of court cases, relevant publications, policy updates

and relevant videos and documentaries. The Waste Crime Alert will be published by the

WasteForce project every three months.

This Waste Crime Alert #7 summarises information that was published between June and

August 2020. The waste crime alerts report primarily on transboundary waste crime cases.

The Waste Crime Alert is structured as follows:

1. Introduction

2. Summary of Publications and Legislative updates, see also the overview in Annex I

3. Analysis of News cases published, see also the overview in Annex II

4. Summary of IGO Enforcement actions, see also the overview in Annex III

5. Summary of Media, see also the overview in Annex IV

2. Summary of new publications and legislative and governance updates. (Annex I)

In this section a summary will be presented of recent publications, sources of each publication

can also be found in Annex I.

With regards to updates in legislation and governance, the Basel Action Network published an

article about the proposed Delegated Regulation of the EU regarding the new trade controls

on unrecyclable waste. While the European Union joined Norway in co-sponsoring

amendments to establish new trade controls on dirty and unrecyclable waste, the draft

regulation does not intent to fully apply the new trade controls in the EU market. Greenberg

Traurig reported that the European Commission has opened a consultation on the adaptation

of amendments to the European Union’s law on transboundary shipments of waste. The Basel

Action Network also published an article about proposed changes in regulation in New

Zealand. The ministry is proposing to meet the Basel Convention requirements and include

“mixed plastic waste” in its “Import and Exports Order” permitting system. The Convention, in

effect from January 2021, requires that most “mixed plastic” waste exports would require prior

informed consent from the receiving countries.

Finally, the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong has opened a page with

Frequently asked questions about import and export of waste to/from Hong Kong.


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In Annex I an overview can be found of ten news articles about issues related to plastic waste

pollution and illegal trade. According to the Basel Action Network, India and other countries

have been hit with the inflow of plastic scrap since the Ban of China. The inflow of plastic in

Turkey has also reached its highest level in 2019 with on average a monthly import quantity of

48,500 tons. According to The Intercept the plastics waste crisis is effecting some of the

poorest individuals in developing countries, where there are no government-funded waste

collection or recycling systems. For example in Kenya plastic waste is causing massive human

rights and child labour problems. The Intercept also posted an article about how plastic waste

is making Central American Communities uninhabitable. The Korea Times posted an article

stating concern about the increased use of single-plastics since the spread of COVID-19, that

could end up in the oceans. The Document Journal posted an article about the issues with

plastic processing in Vietnam. And finally, The Print also published an article reporting about

the concern that action on plastic pollution has been slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic,

but also that there is a new emerging angle to address this pollution and enable a transition to

a greener and more circular economy.

To comply with the new Chinese legislation, the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)

stopped accepting shipments of recovered plastics, fiber, metals and chemicals headed for

China and Hong Kong from June 2020. Also the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd said

it will stop accepting cargoes of solid waste, including scrap metal, bound for China from 1

September 2020 onwards to comply with new legislation.

Annex I of this WCA also includes links to four new reports and scientific articles. In July 2020

the Global E-waste Monitor was published by UNU-ViE SCYCLE, ITU and ISWA. The Global

E-waste Monitor 2020 provides the most comprehensive overview of the global e-waste

challenge, explains how it fits into international efforts to reach the Sustainable Development

Goals, and discusses how to create a sustainable society and circular economy.

A new INTERPOL strategic report on global plastic waste management has found an alarming

increase in illegal plastic pollution trade across the world since 2018. The report indicates that

there has been a considerable increase over the past two years in illegal waste shipments,

primarily rerouted to South-East Asia via multiple transit countries to camouflage the origin of

the waste shipment. Other key findings include an increase in illegal waste fire and landfills in

Europe and Asia, a significant rise in the use of counterfeit documents and fraudulent waste

registrations, with case studies from each of the contributing countries illustrating the extent

and complexity of the problem. Based on open sources and criminal intelligence from 40

countries, the report provides a comprehensive global picture of emerging trafficking routes

and crime threats in the plastic waste market, and recommends tailored enforcement

responses.

Ecoprog published a study about plastic recycling in Europe is an analysis of plastics recycling

in Europe, including of 1200 sorting plants and 1,000 plastic recycling plants.


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There are also two scientific publications included, one about conceptualising transnational

organised crime at sea, including waste crime and the other is a revised article about the

transboundary hazardous waste movements after the Basel Convention.

Finally, the Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for the Environment and Spatial Planning

published two summaries of join inspections in Slovenia in June and July.

3. Analysis of news cases (Annex II)

This section presents an analysis of the news cases of transboundary waste movements

between June 2020 and August 2020. In total, 15 cases were collected, of which an overview

can also be found in Annex II.

Figure 2: Global map with the listed news cases, the colours are linked to the origin or

destination country

For more information follow this Link.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1mV3Ii7PeOen5YCfjdtpU13VhUa1JN7lD&usp=sharing


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1. Types of waste and routes

Types of waste

reported

Routes and case numbers

Plastic United Kingdom > Latvia (case 5)

Europe (UK, Italy, Germany, France) > Turkey (case 9)

Metal Romania > Indonesia (case 6)

Netherlands (case 7)

Ozone Depleting

Substances (HFCs)

China > Poland (case 1)

E-waste Canary Islands Spain > several countries in Africa (case 4)

Tyres Croatia > Italy> Africa (case 10)

Mixed waste and other China (case 3)

Belgium > France (case 8)

Slovenia > Italy (case 11)

Hazardous waste Italy > Bulgaria (case 2)

Spain > Africa (case 9)

Romania > Malaysia > Indonesia (case 10)

The Netherlands > Belgium (case 12)

Italy (case 13 and 14)

Spain (case 15)

Table 1: Overview of types of waste and routes reported in the news cases

2. Quantities and values

The following quantities and values were reported for illegal trade flows:

• Refrigerants: illegal export from China to Poland of 14 tonnes, involving 1150 cylinders.

• Plastic: illegal export from the United Kingdom to Latvia of 549 tonnes of plastic and rubber waste.

• Tyres: illegal export from Croatia via Italy to countries in Africa of 13,2 tonnes of tyres Hazardous waste including metals:

• Illegal shipments (138) from the Canary Islands to Africa containing 2500 tons of hazardous waste, of which 750 tons of e-waste.

• Illegal export from Romania to Indonesia of 110 containers of hazardous heavy metals including 1,864 tonnes of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD)

Other waste:

• Illegal export from Belgium to France of at least 780 tonnes of rubber and household waste.

• Illegal export from Slovenia to Italy of 20 tonnes of non-hazardous waste.

• The seizure of 598,800 tonnes of different types of illicit waste imported in China from different countries.

In total 5,740 tonnes of waste was illegally shipped plus a summary of seizures in China of 598,000 tonnes.


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3. Modus operandi

Types of modus operandi reported for the illegal export were:

• Export without a correct permit;

• Unreported export, smuggling;

• False declaration (e.g. EAFD declared as concentrated zinc);

• Waste declared as second-hand goods (electrical and electronic equipment, this was

sourced from waste bins and on the street and shipped as used equipment);

Illegal storage and management:

• Lack of a permit to manage plastic and rubber waste;

• Lack of compliance with the permit;

• Illegal disposal;

Other organized illicit activities including illicit competition, threat and violent acts, attempted

murder and illicit possession of firearms;

4. Criminal organisations

In six of the cases the (suspected) involvement of organised crime groups was reported. In

case 2, two brothers who owned a recycling business were linked to a list of names of media

bosses and entrepreneurs who were assassinated in the 1990s. Sums running into millions of

dollars were entered against some of the names. These brothers were working under demand

of a deputy minister that authorised the illegal trafficking of waste. In case 3, the operation

“Blue Sky 2020” led to the capture of 80 criminal suspects in 38 smuggling syndicates. In case

4 and 8, there is suspected involvement of an organised crime group. In case 13 there was

involvement of a criminal group composed by entrepreneurs, lawyers and professionals in the

nautical sector. Finally, in case 14 there was also involvement of organized crime (Sicilian

mafia) and of public officers working in the waste collection/treatment municipal company.

In two other cases the involvement of recycling companies was reported. In case 5 a recycling

company illegally imported waste and in case 7 a recycling company is suspected to be

involved in other criminal activities including money laundering, forgery, possession of stolen

property, and various environmental crimes.


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5. Summary of IGO Enforcement action, see also the overview in Annex III

The joint RETROVIRUS operation was coordinated by EUROPOL in cooperation with the

EnviCrimeNet network. Operation RETROVIRUS aims to prevent "inappropriate" / illegal

collection, transport, management and management of sanitary waste (contrary to

international, EU and national legislation and international conventions) for activities against

the spread and treatment of the COVID epidemic 19. In Annex III a link can be found for more

information.

As part of the operation RETROVIRUS more than 500 inspections were conducted in Spain

by the Guardia Civil, and 184 infractions have been reported with regard to irregularities in the

management, transport and disposal of medical waste mainly related to the Covid pandemic.

These infractions are both dangerous for the pollution of the ecosystem and for the possible

transmission of the virus (see also case 15 in Annex II).

6. Summary of media, see also the overview in Annex IV

In Annex IV a link can be found to a video about an investigation by BBC news into plastic

waste that is sent from Britain to Turkey for recycling, but is instead being dumped and

burned on the side of roads. There is also a second link to a video about unauthorized

landfills in France, where Belgian waste is dumped illegally.


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Annex I: Publications and Legislative/Policy Updates Legislation and Governance

Title EU Promotes Greater Global Responsibility on Plastic Waste - But Not

for Internal Market!

Organisation Basel Action Network

Type of waste Plastic

Date 6-7-2020

Summary In April of last year, the European Union joined Norway in co-sponsoring

amendments to the world's only waste treaty to establish new trade controls

on the dirtiest and most unrecyclable plastic wastes. However, last week, the

European Commission made it official in their publication of the proposed

Delegated Regulation that the EU does not intend to fully apply these new

trade controls themselves between their own member states. The draft

regulation would allow some plastic wastes to instead be freely traded in the

EU market without the newly agreed controls. These plastics have recently

been regulated under the Basel Convention's Annex II due to the difficulty in

recycling them, and the risks they pose to human health and the environment

particularly when they are burnt. They include a wide set of mixed plastic

wastes, PVC and PTFE (Teflon) wastes, as well as all manner of plastic

waste not destined for mechanical recycling.

Links https://www.ban.org/news/2020/5/21/regulation-could-clean-up-new-

zealands-exports-of-contaminated-recycling-to-developing-countries

Title Regulation could clean up New Zealand's exports of contaminated

recycling to developing countries



Date 21-5-2020

Summary The Ministry is proposing changes to its Imports and Exports Order to meet Basel Convention requirements, and include "mixed plastic waste" in New Zealand's permitting system. The convention, in effect from January 2021, means most "mixed plastic" waste exports would require prior consent from the receiving countries, a Ministry for the Environment spokeswoman said. Currently, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is only required to issue permits for exports of "hazardous" plastic waste, or plastic waste mixed with other waste. Environmental anthropologist Dr Trisia Farrell said "We need to make sure that there's clear limits for the contamination of our waste shipped offshore."

Link https://www.ban.org/news/2020/5/21/regulation-could-clean-up-new-

zealands-exports-of-contaminated-recycling-to-developing-countries

Title EU Opens Consultation on Rules for Transboundary Plastic Waste

Shipments

Organisation GreenbergTraurig

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/5/21/regulation-could-clean-up-new-zealands-exports-of-contaminated-recycling-to-developing-countries





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Type of waste Plastic waste

Date 2-7-2020

Summary The European Commission has opened a consultation on the adoption of

amendments (currently available in draft form) to the European Union’s law

on the transboundary shipments of waste. These amendments are intended

to allow the EU to give effect to recent changes to the Basel Convention on

the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their

Disposal (the Convention) which significantly extend the Convention’s scope

in relation to plastic waste.

Link https://www.gtlaw.com/en/insights/2020/7/eu-opens-consultation-on-rules-

for-transboundary-plastic-waste-shipments

Title Guidelines & References - Control on Import and Export of Waste

Organisation Environmental Protection Department Hong Kong

Type of waste Hazardous waste

Date 14-7-2020

Summary Frequently asked questions about import and export of waste to/from Hong

Kong

Link https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide

_wiec_faq.html

News Articles

Title Millions against rubbish

Organisation KfW


Date 22-1-2019

Summary How can the plastic pollution of our oceans be stopped? A multimillion dollar

waste project financed by KfW in Indonesia shows that the battle against

marine litter must also be fought on land. At the moment, EUR 75 million is

available for the construction of landfills with sorting and composting facilities

in Jambi, Sidoarjo, Jombang and Malang. A further EUR 7.6 million will be

used to ensure that municipalities are ready to operate these facilities in a

sustainable way, to organise proper waste collection and to convince the

population of the importance of "the three R's" – reduce, reuse and recycle.

Link https://www.kfw.de/stories/environment/nature-conservation/solid-waste-

management-indonesia/

Title Is India Becoming America’s Trash Bin for Illegal Plastic Waste? Organisation

Basel Action Network

Type of waste Plastic Date 30-1-2020 Summary Since China banned the import of containers carrying scrap paper, plastics

and metals for recycling and reuse, other countries have been hit with the

https://www.gtlaw.com/en/insights/2020/7/eu-opens-consultation-on-rules-for-transboundary-plastic-waste-shipments

https://www.gtlaw.com/en/insights/2020/7/eu-opens-consultation-on-rules-for-transboundary-plastic-waste-shipments

https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_wiec_faq.html

https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_wiec_faq.html

https://www.kfw.de/stories/environment/nature-conservation/solid-waste-management-indonesia/

https://www.kfw.de/stories/environment/nature-conservation/solid-waste-management-indonesia/


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inflow of plastic scrap. While Indonesia promised to send back illegal plastic waste to the origin countries, BAN found out it was illegally converted to countries like India, Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam. The waste was categorised as paper scrap when, in reality, it comprised of plastic and other hazardous materials

Link https://www.ban.org/news/2020/1/30/is-india-becoming-americas-trash-bin-for-illegal-plastic-waste

Title

Plastic waste sent from EU to Turkey increased by almost 200 times



Date 27-6-2020

Summary The amount of plastic waste sent from European Union countries to be processed in Turkey increased 173-fold since 2004, news website Diken reported on Friday. This means that Turkey is receiving an average of 213 trucks of plastic waste from the EU every day. Turkey’s plastic waste imports reached their highest ever level in 2019, at an average monthly quantity of 48,500 tons, Diken reported. The highest plastic waste exporters to Turkey last year were Britain (153,967 tons), Italy (89,470), Belgium (85,843), Germany (67,466), and France (56,824).

Link https://www.ban.org/news/2020/6/29/plastic-waste-sent-from-eu-to-turkey-

increased-by-almost-200-times

Title

Shipping giant stops e-plastic exports to Hong Kong

Type of waste Plastic, metal Organisation Basel Action Network Date 18-6-2020 Summary Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) this month stopped accepting

shipments of recovered plastics, fiber, metals and chemicals headed for China and Hong Kong "complying with recently updated Chinese legislation". The company issued a notice to customers outlining the change, which took effect June 1.

Link https://www.ban.org/news/2020/6/18/shipping-giant-stops-e-plastic-exports-to-hong-kong

Title

Africa's exploding plastic nightmare

Type of waste Plastic Organisation The Intercept Date 19-4-2020 Summary While the plastics crisis has largely played out on the administrative level in

the U.S., burdening local governments with the growing costs and logistics of managing plastic garbage, in developing countries that have no government-funded waste collection or recycling systems, those burdens fall on individuals. In Kenya, where some 18 million people live on less than $1.90 per day, the responsibility offloaded by some of the most profitable companies in the world falls to some of the poorest individuals in the world. And Kenya is just one of dozens of developing countries where plastic is causing massive human rights and child labor problems, in addition to

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/1/30/is-india-becoming-americas-trash-bin-for-illegal-plastic-waste

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/1/30/is-india-becoming-americas-trash-bin-for-illegal-plastic-waste

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/6/29/plastic-waste-sent-from-eu-to-turkey-increased-by-almost-200-times

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/6/29/plastic-waste-sent-from-eu-to-turkey-increased-by-almost-200-times

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/6/18/shipping-giant-stops-e-plastic-exports-to-hong-kong

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/6/18/shipping-giant-stops-e-plastic-exports-to-hong-kong


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environmental devastation. Wealthy countries fail to recycle the vast majority of their plastics.

Link https://theintercept.com/2020/04/19/africa-plastic-waste-kenya-ethiopia/ Title

River of trash

Type of waste Plastic Organisation The Intercept Date 27-10-2019 Summary The article is about how plastic pollution is making Central American

Communities uninhabitable. Link https://theintercept.com/2019/10/27/plastic-pollution-guatemala/

Title Plastic pollution plagues Southeast Asia amid Covid-19 lockdowns

Organisation The Korea Times


Date 10-8-2020

Summary With consumers around the world stuck at home amid the spread of Covid-

19 ― which has infected close to 19 million people and killed more than

700,000 ― the utilisation of single-use plastic has skyrocketed, raising

concerns about recycling and surging pollution. Many people are reliant on

food delivery services and online shopping platforms to obtain goods and

stay connected, with a corresponding increase in disposable packaging.

Southeast Asia is no different. More than 50 per cent of the eight million

tonnes of plastic waste that ends up in the world's oceans every year comes

from Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, environmental

advocacy group Ocean Conservancy estimates ― partly because richer

Western countries such as Australia, Canada, Britain and the United States

have sent massive shipments of waste to these countries for decades.

Link https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2020/08/501_294157.html

Title The pandemic built new trade barriers that hurt plastic pollution

Organisation The Print


Date 1-8-2020

Summary Action on plastic pollution has been slowed considerably during the COVID-

19 pandemic – but there’s a new emerging angle that could help rebuild

momentum for the transition to a greener and more circular society.

Governments at the World Trade Organization (WTO) are also showing

increased interest in tackling plastics pollution. Cross-border frictions prevent

economies of scale in tackling plastic pollution. Governments must

collaborate to scale the circular economy at a global level. The article gives

a different recommendations related to traceability, data, border measures,

internal measures and transparency.

Link https://theprint.in/features/the-pandemic-built-new-trade-barriers-that-hurt-

plastic-pollution/472610/

https://theintercept.com/2020/04/19/africa-plastic-waste-kenya-ethiopia/

https://theintercept.com/2019/10/27/plastic-pollution-guatemala/

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2020/08/501_294157.html

https://theprint.in/features/the-pandemic-built-new-trade-barriers-that-hurt-plastic-pollution/472610/

https://theprint.in/features/the-pandemic-built-new-trade-barriers-that-hurt-plastic-pollution/472610/


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Title Vietnam’s “plastic village” is the tale of Western excess

Organisation Document Journal


Date 7-8-2020

Summary In July 2018, the Vietnamese government announced it would curb the legal

and illegal importation of plastic after waste shipments to the country surged

following China’s ban of several types of solid waste earlier in the year.

Vietnam Customs reported that the country imported 9.2 million tons of scrap

material in 2018, a 14 percent increase since 2017. The Ministry of Natural

Resources and the Environment cited environmental concerns as the

impetus for the policy change. As plastic processing becomes more lucrative

than farming, many people travel to Minh Khai to work long hours in factories

or workshops. These workers and nearby residents are exposed to hundreds

of chemicals— including hydrochloric acid, sulphur dioxide, and heavy

metals—which can lead to developmental disorders, endocrine disruption,

and cancer.

Link https://www.documentjournal.com/2020/08/vietnams-plastic-village-is-the-

tale-of-western-excess/

Title Hapag-Lloyd to halt waste shipments to China

Organisation Business Insider

Type of waste Solid waste

Date 26-6-2020

Summary German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd said it had notified customers it

will stop accepting cargoes of solid waste, including scrap metal, bound for

China that arrive from Sept. 1 onwards to comply with new legislation.

Link https://www.businessinsider.com/hapag-lloyd-to-halt-waste-shipments-to-

china-2020-6

Studies/Reports

Title Plastics recycling in Europe Type of waste Plastic Organisation ecoprog GmbH Date July-2020 Summary The study “Plastics recycling in Europe” includes: "A detailed analysis of all

the important political, economic, operational and technical trends in European plastics recycling."; " The description and analysis of over 1,200 sorting plants and over 1,000 plastics recycling plants (by site), including significant key data on operators, input and capacities (wherever possible)."; "A detailed assessment of this data as well as an analysis of the legislation and the market factors at country level (30 European countries). This also includes capacities and market shares of sorting and recycling by country."; "Background about the planning boom for chemical recycling plants in Europe and an overview of more than 30 chemical recycling projects.".

https://www.documentjournal.com/2020/08/vietnams-plastic-village-is-the-tale-of-western-excess/

https://www.documentjournal.com/2020/08/vietnams-plastic-village-is-the-tale-of-western-excess/

https://www.businessinsider.com/hapag-lloyd-to-halt-waste-shipments-to-china-2020-6

https://www.businessinsider.com/hapag-lloyd-to-halt-waste-shipments-to-china-2020-6


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Link https://www.ecoprog.com/fileadmin/user_upload/leseproben/extract_plastics_recycling_europe_ecoprog.pdf

Title Strategic Analysis Report: Emerging criminal trends in the global plastic waste market since January 2018

Type of waste Plastic Organisation INTERPOL Date 27-08-2020 Summary A new INTERPOL strategic report on global plastic waste management has

found an alarming increase in illegal plastic pollution trade across the world since 2018. The report, entitled INTERPOL’s strategical analysis on emerging criminal trends in the global plastic waste market since January 2018, indicates that there has been a considerable increase over the past two years in illegal waste shipments, primarily rerouted to South-East Asia via multiple transit countries to camouflage the origin of the waste shipment. Other key findings include an increase in illegal waste fire and landfills in Europe and Asia, a significant rise in the use of counterfeit documents and fraudulent waste registrations, with case studies from each of the contributing countries illustrating the extent and complexity of the problem. Based on open sources and criminal intelligence from 40 countries, the report provides a comprehensive global picture of emerging trafficking routes and crime threats in the plastic waste market, and recommends tailored enforcement responses. The report points to the link between crime networks and legitimate pollution management businesses which are used as a cover for illegal operations, with criminals often resorting to financial crime and document forgery to carry out their global operations.

Link https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2020/INTERPOL-report-alerts-to-sharp-rise-in-plastic-waste-crime https://www.interpol.int/content/download/15587/file/INTERPOL%20Report%20_criminal%20trends-plastic%20waste.pdf

Global E-waste monitor 2020

Type of waste E-waste Organisation UNU-VIE SCYCLE, ITU, ISWA Date July-2020 Summary The Global E-waste Monitor 2020 provides the most comprehensive

overview of the global e-waste challenge, explains how it fits into international efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, and discusses how to create a sustainable society and circular economy. The report provides a national and regional analysis on e-waste quantities and legislative instruments, and makes predictions until 2030. It also encourages decision-makers to increase activities to measure and monitor e-waste using an internationally recognised methodological framework.

Link https://publications.globalewaste.org/v1/file/271/The-Global-E-waste-Monitor-2020-Quantities-flows-and-the-circular-economy-potential.pdf

Title Blue crime: Conceptualising transnational organised crime at sea (Academic article with restricted access)

Type of waste All types Organisation Marine Policy, Christian Bueger and Timothy Edmunds

https://www.ecoprog.com/fileadmin/user_upload/leseproben/extract_plastics_recycling_europe_ecoprog.pdf

https://www.ecoprog.com/fileadmin/user_upload/leseproben/extract_plastics_recycling_europe_ecoprog.pdf

https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2020/INTERPOL-report-alerts-to-sharp-rise-in-plastic-waste-crime

https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2020/INTERPOL-report-alerts-to-sharp-rise-in-plastic-waste-crime

https://www.interpol.int/content/download/15587/file/INTERPOL%20Report%20_criminal%20trends-plastic%20waste.pdf

https://www.interpol.int/content/download/15587/file/INTERPOL%20Report%20_criminal%20trends-plastic%20waste.pdf

https://publications.globalewaste.org/v1/file/271/The-Global-E-waste-Monitor-2020-Quantities-flows-and-the-circular-economy-potential.pdf

https://publications.globalewaste.org/v1/file/271/The-Global-E-waste-Monitor-2020-Quantities-flows-and-the-circular-economy-potential.pdf


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Date 29-6-2020 Summary Academic article about conceptualising transnational organised crime at sea,

including illegal shipments of waste. Link https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X20300270

?via%3Dihub

Title Trade for the Environment: Transboundary Hazardous Waste Movements After the Basel Convention (Academic article with open access)

Type of waste Hazardous waste Organisation Review of Policy Research, Shiming Yang Date 06-03-2019, revised 27-07-2020 Summary Current literature emphasizes North–South conflict under the Basel

Convention as a main reason for these shortcomings. This paper returns to the fundamental question as to why countries engage in this trade. It contends that hazardous wastes are not only characterized by their environmental impacts, but are also distinct in the ways they are generated, distributed, and managed. I argue that global economic integration has commodified these wastes, and countries are increasingly diverging on their views of hazardous materials. [...] As globalization deepens, management of hazardous wastes may require extensive trade of hazardous materials between countries of varying capabilities and interests. Contrary to its current trade minimization approach based on a crude North–South dichotomy, the Basel Convention may benefit from an approach that motivates capable countries to import wastes and one that builds capacity for intended waste importers.

Link https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3386820

Inspection summary

Title Control actions to prevent the negligent management of medical waste, in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19 virus and other diseases

Type of waste Medical waste Organisation Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for the Environment and Spatial

Planning Date 28-7-2020 Summary Summary of joint inspections in Slovenia, realised in July. The main focus of

inspections was prevention of negligent management of sanitary waste, in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19 virus and other diseases

Link https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-07-28-akcije-nadzora-za-preprecevanje-malomarnega-ravnanja-s-sanitarnimi-odpadki-z-namenom-preprecitve-sirjenja-virusa-covid-19-in-drugih-bolezni/

Title Control actions for cross-border shipments of waste in June. Type of waste Medical waste Organisation Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for the Environment and Spatial

Planning Date 27-7-2020 Summary Summary of joint inspections in Slovenia, realised in June. The focus of the

controls was on the prevention of environmental crime directly related to the

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X20300270?via%3Dihub

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0308597X20300270?via%3Dihub

https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-07-28-akcije-nadzora-za-preprecevanje-malomarnega-ravnanja-s-sanitarnimi-odpadki-z-namenom-preprecitve-sirjenja-virusa-covid-19-in-drugih-bolezni/




16

COVID-19 epidemic, with an emphasis on the prevention of illegal handling and transport of sanitary waste. The way waste is collected, transported, treated and ultimately disposed of is crucial to curbing the spread of the epidemic.

Link https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-07-02-akcije-nadzora-cezmejnega-posiljanja-odpadkov-v-mesecu-juniju/

https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-07-02-akcije-nadzora-cezmejnega-posiljanja-odpadkov-v-mesecu-juniju/



17

Annex II: Cases reported in the news Case 1. China- Poland

Title Customs seize 14 tonnes of illegal HFC in Rotterdam Date 3-7-2020 Type of waste HFCs: shipment included R410A, R32 and R404A. Quantity/Value It involved 1,150 cylinders, all of them illegal non-refillables, 14 tonnes. Routes The shipment coming from China was initially discharged in the port of

Hamburg and declared in transit towards Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, despite the fact that the final destination was Lithuania. Further investigations established that the cargo was destined for a storage facility in Poland.

Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

Illegal export and illegal storage.

Enforcement Action

The successful seizure is said to have been the result of close cooperation between the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and authorities in the Netherlands, Lithuania and Poland.

Criminal organisation

Unreported

Summary The European Anti-Fraud Office’s crackdown on the illegal trade in HFCs has led to the seizure of 14 tonnes of illegal refrigerants at the port of Rotterdam. It has not been revealed the exact refrigerants seized but photographs indicate the shipment included R410A, R32 and R404A. It involved 1,150 cylinders, all of them illegal non-refillable. OLAF’s investigation began when it identified a suspicious cargo destined for a consignee in Lithuania that was not registered to receive imports of this nature. In addition, the shipment coming from China was initially discharged in the port of Hamburg and declared in transit towards Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, despite the fact that the final destination was Lithuania. Further investigations established that the cargo was destined for a storage facility in Poland.

For more information, please visit:

https://www.coolingpost.com/world-news/customs-seize-14-tonnes-of-illegal-hfc-in-rotterdam/

Case 2. Italy - Bulgaria Title Bulgarian minister charged over illegal waste imports from Italy Date 31-5-2020 Type of waste Dangerous waste such as batteries, lead and polyethylene. Quantity/Value Quantities are not reported for the burning, but in the past 157 containers

were sent back from Sofia to Italy Routes Italy to Bulgaria Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

The imported waste was not recycled but illegally burnt.




18

Enforcement Action

Bulgaria’s deputy environment minister Krassimir Zhivkov has been arrested and charged for his alleged role in illegally importing harmful waste from Italy and burning it. Also the business men the Bobokovi brothers have been arrested. Bobokovi brothers were detained for 24 hours and will most likely be charged with participation in an organized crime group and tax crimes.


Italian and Bulgarian authorities had been investigating two Bulgarian brothers operating in their countries. They own a recycling business. During a raid on Friday on the home of the businessmen in the Bulgarian town of Rousse, the police found a list of names of media bosses and entrepreneurs who were assassinated in the 1990s. Sums running into millions of dollars were entered against some of the names. “Deputy minister Krassimir Zhivkov pressured his subordinates to authorise the illegal trafficking of waste” from Italy.

Summary Bulgaria’s deputy environment minister Krassimir Zhivkov has been arrested and charged for his alleged role in illegally importing harmful waste from Italy and burning it, prosecutors said Saturday. Italian and Bulgarian authorities had been investigating two Bulgarian brothers operating in their countries. They own a recycling business and deal with dangerous waste such as batteries, lead and polyethylene. “Deputy minister Krassimir Zhivkov pressured his subordinates to authorise the illegal trafficking of waste” from Italy, prosecutor Dolka Brezashka said, asking for him to be held in custody.


https://www.macaubusiness.com/bulgarian-minister-charged-over-illegal-waste-imports-from-italy/ https://www.novinite.com/articles/204679/Development%3A+More+Arrested+for+Illegal+Import+of+Waste+from+Italy?fbclid=IwAR16_IQa1I3ngfh9ajv9geJp-ZDBH7YAMyvOSCMhCJPHwVP3tFw8h5kNzek https://www.ban.org/news/2020/5/29/development-more-arrested-for-illegal-import-of-waste-from-italy

Case 3. - China Title China uncovers over 500k tonnes of illegal waste in latest crackdown Date 19-6-2020 Type of waste Different types of illicit waste including waste oil and slag Quantity/Value The seizure of 598,800 tonnes of illicit imported waste. The GAC also

announced that Chinese imports of solid waste are down 42.5 per cent year-on-year, totalling 3,225,000 tonnes between January and May of this year. Solid waste smuggling cases have also seen a decrease of 58.1 per cent year-on-year, with the GAC handling 81 criminal cases despite the disruption caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Routes Unreported Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

Smuggling

Enforcement Action

The 'Blue Sky' initiative was first launched in a 2018 campaign, which cracked down on illegal imports of 24 grades of waste banned earlier that year. This followed in the vein of previous campaigns including 2013's Operation Green Fence and 2017's National Sword Campaign. On Wednesday (17 June), China's General Administration of Customs (GAC)

https://www.macaubusiness.com/bulgarian-minister-charged-over-illegal-waste-imports-from-italy/

https://www.macaubusiness.com/bulgarian-minister-charged-over-illegal-waste-imports-from-italy/

https://www.novinite.com/articles/204679/Development%3A+More+Arrested+for+Illegal+Import+of+Waste+from+Italy?fbclid=IwAR16_IQa1I3ngfh9ajv9geJp-ZDBH7YAMyvOSCMhCJPHwVP3tFw8h5kNzek



https://www.ban.org/news/2020/5/29/development-more-arrested-for-illegal-import-of-waste-from-italy

https://www.ban.org/news/2020/5/29/development-more-arrested-for-illegal-import-of-waste-from-italy


19

announced that the Guangdong Sub-Administration and 12 participating Customs Districts had successfully busted 38 smuggling syndicates.


The capture of 80 criminal suspects in 38 smuggling syndicates

Summary Chinese customs authorities have intercepted over 500,000 tonnes of illegal waste under the ‘Blue Sky 2020’ anti-smuggling campaign and plan to continue the crackdown on illicit domestic and foreign waste imports.


https://resource.co/article/china-uncovers-over-500k-tonnes-illegal-waste-latest-crackdown

Case 4. Canary Islands Spain- countries in Africa Title 2 500 tonnes of waste trafficked from the Canary Island to Africa Date 29-6-2020 Type of waste Second-hand items, such as vehicle parts, household goods, and a huge

amount of electrical waste and electronic equipment. Quantity/Value 2 500 tonnes of waste trafficked from the Canary Island to Africa Routes The Canary Islands, Spain to countries in Africa Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

The criminals loaded maritime containers with second-hand items, such as vehicle parts, household goods, and a huge amount of electrical waste and electronic equipment. The investigation carried out by the Spanish officers concluded that the unwanted electronics were shipped to several countries in Africa to be sold on to buyers there. The items sold were all obsolete and were not fit for use as the criminal network had primarily sourced the equipment from rubbish bins and on the street.

Enforcement Action

An organised crime group has been dismantled by the Spanish Civil Guard SEPRONA, with the support of Europol and the Italian Carabinieri.


An organised crime group. Those arrested are also suspected of document fraud to carry out their illegal activities.

Summary 750 000 kg of electrical waste and electronic equipment was among the waste seized by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) after a two-year investigation.


https://www.europol.europa.eu/newsroom/news/2-500-tonnes-of-waste-trafficked-canary-islands-to-africa

Case 5. United Kingdom - Latvia Title Latvia to repatriate ‘illegal’ UK waste Date 26-6-2020 Type of waste Plastic and rubber Quantity/Value 549 tonnes of waste Routes United Kingdom to Latvia and repatriation back to the United Kingdom. Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

Why Recycle imported the waste from the UK. They does have a valid permit for storing or temporarily sorting municipal waste, but not to manage the plastic and rubber waste, according to the Latvian regulator. It has also been claimed by the VVD that the cargo’s accompanying documents provide incorrect information, namely, “a poorly sorted mixture of municipal






20

waste is assigned to plastic waste”. The VVD also claimed that the company had not complied with the conditions of the issued polluting activity permit, as it had improperly managed the waste. The company was reported to have stored municipal waste in an unauthorised place, which the VVD said created a “danger to the surrounding environment by polluting and littering”. According to the Latvian authorities, waste can only be imported to Latvia to recovery facilities that have “adequate capacity” and a permit for the recovery of the waste, and shipments of non-classified waste can only take place subject to prior written notification and consent.

Enforcement Action

The Latvian Environment Service, known as VVD, said it carried out an inspection on “possible illegal transboundary waste shipments” and has “started to take measures” to repatriate the waste. They are working with the Latvian authorities to investigate the circumstances around these particular exports, and will take appropriate action to hold those responsible to account should there be any evidence of wrong-doing – and to ensure any illegally exported waste is repatriated to the UK.”


A Latvian materials recycling company, Why Recycle, imported the waste from “various companies in Great Britain” between 25 May to 16 June 2020.

Summary The Environment Agency is working with its counterpart in Latvia into an investigation into possible illegal waste exports from the UK. State Environment Service for Latvia has indicated it will repatriate 549 tonnes of waste “imported from Great Britain”.


https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/latvia-to-repatriate-illegal-uk-waste/ https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/illegal-waste-imports-into-latvia-stopped.a364327/

Case 6. Romania – Indonesia (via Malaysia) Title Malaysia uncovers largest abandoned shipment of illegal toxic waste

from Romania Date 19-7-2020 Type of waste Hazardous heavy metals: lectric arc furnace dust (EAFD) - a by-product of

steel production that contains heavy metals like zinc, cadmium and lead. Quantity/Value 110 containers of hazardous heavy metals: 1,864 tonnes of electric arc

furnace dust (EAFD). Routes The containers were found abandoned at the Tanjung Pelepas port in

Malaysia, they originated from Romania and were bound for Indonesia. Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

The EAFD, classified as a toxic waste under the Basel Convention, had been listed as concentrated zinc in declaration forms. “The Department of Environment, as the Basel Convention authority (for Malaysia), has not granted approval for or received notifications from the waste exporter to transit in Malaysia,” he said.

Enforcement Action

Malaysia has contacted the Romanian Basel Convention authority to arrange for the repatriation of the containers and have engaged Interpol for further investigations, Bernama said.


Unreported.

Summary Malaysia discovered 110 containers of hazardous heavy metals from Romania and bound for Indonesia that had illegally entered the country and

https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/latvia-to-repatriate-illegal-uk-waste/

https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/latvia-to-repatriate-illegal-uk-waste/

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/illegal-waste-imports-into-latvia-stopped.a364327/

https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/illegal-waste-imports-into-latvia-stopped.a364327/


21

were abandoned last month, its largest case of dumped toxic waste, state media Bernama reported on Sunday.


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-environment/malaysia-uncovers-largest-abandoned-shipment-of-illegal-toxic-waste-from-romania-idUSKCN24K0DK https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1275090890/maleisie-onderschept-1-8-miljoen-kilo-giftig-afval-uit-roemenie/?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=whatsapp

Case 7. Netherlands Title Gold worth millions of euros seized at recycling company in Limburg

Date 15-7-2020 Type of waste Metals (gold) (no confirmed relation with waste crime) Quantity/Value Hundreds of kilograms of gold (no confirmed relation with waste crime) Routes NA Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

Unreported

Enforcement Action

Two company officials were arrested


The public prosecutor suspects the company of involvement in money laundering, forgery, possession of stolen property, and various environmental crimes. Two company officials were arrested.

Summary The Dutch authorities seized hundreds of kilograms of gold, worth millions of euros, during an investigation into a Limburg recycling company suspected of money laundering. Various other items were also found at the company, including a container filled with mortar grenades and old ammunition, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said in a statement on Wednesday. Two people were arrested. The authorities searched the recycling company as well as three homes belonging to company officials. They found and seized hundreds of kilograms of gold, about 450 thousand euros in cash, three properties, cars including a Maserati, Ferrari and Porsche, and 17 expensive watches, including from the brands Rolex and Audemars Piguet. Various firearms and related ammunition were also seized.


https://nltimes.nl/2020/07/15/hundreds-kilos-gold-seized-limburg-money-laundering-investigation https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6064518/miljoenen-euros-aan-goud-in-beslag-genomen-bij-limburgs-recyclingbedrijf.html

Case 8. Belgium - France Title Unauthorized landfills, full of Belgian waste dumped illegally, pollute

French Lorraine

Date 25-6-2020 Type of waste rubber, household waste

Quantity/Value at least 780 tonnes

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-environment/malaysia-uncovers-largest-abandoned-shipment-of-illegal-toxic-waste-from-romania-idUSKCN24K0DK



https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/1275090890/maleisie-onderschept-1-8-miljoen-kilo-giftig-afval-uit-roemenie/?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=whatsapp




https://nltimes.nl/2020/07/15/hundreds-kilos-gold-seized-limburg-money-laundering-investigation

https://nltimes.nl/2020/07/15/hundreds-kilos-gold-seized-limburg-money-laundering-investigation

https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6064518/miljoenen-euros-aan-goud-in-beslag-genomen-bij-limburgs-recyclingbedrijf.html

https://www.nu.nl/binnenland/6064518/miljoenen-euros-aan-goud-in-beslag-genomen-bij-limburgs-recyclingbedrijf.html


22

Routes Anvers, Brecht in Belgium to villages in Lorraine, France Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

Illegal export and disposal

Enforcement Action

French public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation for fraud in an organized group and criminal association. Another investigation is ongoing in Belgium.


Probable involvement of a criminal organisation

Summary Several hundred tons of rubble and other household waste were dumped illegally in a dozen villages in Lorraine by a Belgian transporter at the request of a customer, a Belgian waste collection centre which believed to send its cargoes of waste to a French waste sorting centre, managed by a Lyon company, whose director says not being aware of such an agreement and denies having issued the delivery notes that he considers falsified. All these players were put in touch by an intermediary who admits having earned between "200 and 220,000 euros" with this transport of waste but denies having falsified the order forms and claims to have been the victim of another intermediary.


https://www.demotivateur.fr/article/des-centaines-de-tonnes-de-dechets-illegaux-provenant-de-belgique-deverses-a-la-frontiere-francaise-21470 https://www.consoglobe.com/trafic-de-dechets-belgique-france-cg

Case 9. Spain - Africa

Title 34 people arrested in Spain for illegal trafficking of electronic waste to Africa

Date 29-6-2020 Type of waste hazardous waste

Quantity/Value 138 shipments, and one stopped shipment of 2500 tonnes

Routes From Tenerife, Spain to Senegal, Ghana, Gambia, Togo, Benin, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

Type of crimes/ Modus Operandi

Illegal shipment of waste

Enforcement Action

34 people arrested by European and Spanish police


African and European organised group

Summary 34 people mainly from Africa have been arrested by European and Spanish police for trafficking electronic waste to Africa. Between 2018 and 2019, 138 transfers of hazardous waste were carried out from Spain to Africa. According to the press release from the Spanish police, the network loaded in boat the waste and a 62-year-old Italian woman was responsible for transmitting the necessary documents to customs, falsifying certificates to make it appear that these devices were working perfectly.


https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites/2906-77986-34-personnes-arretees-en-espagne-pour-trafic-illegal-des-dechets-electroniques-a-destination-de-lafrique

https://www.demotivateur.fr/article/des-centaines-de-tonnes-de-dechets-illegaux-provenant-de-belgique-deverses-a-la-frontiere-francaise-21470


https://www.consoglobe.com/trafic-de-dechets-belgique-france-cg





23

https://lanouvelletribune.info/2020/06/trafic-de-dechets-electroniques-vers-lafrique-34-personnes-arretees-en-espagne/

Case 10. Europe (mainly UK, Italy, Germany, France) to Turkey

Title Turkey, Europe's new trash for plastic waste that is supposed to be

recycled there

Date 27-5-2020


Quantity/ Value 582,000 tonnes in 2019

Routes Europe (mainly UK, Italy, Germany, France) to Turkey

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

Not proven to be illegal shipment but lack of control

Enforcement

Action

NA

Criminal

organisation

NA

Summary The NGO Greenpeace warns of the exponential increase in exports of

European plastic waste to Turkey, and its consequences for the

environment.

For more

information,

please visit:

https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/en-direct-du-monde/la-turquie-

nouvelle-poubelle-de-leurope-pour-les-dechets-plastiques-qui-sont-

censes-y-etre-recycles_3961483.html

Case 11. Romania – Malaysia – Indonesia

Title 1,800 tonnes of illegal toxic waste found abandoned in Malaysian port

Date 23-7-2020

Type of waste Electric Arc Furnace Dust (EAFD), classified as toxic waste under the Basel

Convention

Quantity/Value 110 containers containing 1,864 tonnes

Routes From Romania, transit and seizure in Malaysia, destination was Indonesia

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

The Electric Arc Furnace Dust (toxic waste) was classified as concentrated

zinc in declaration forms

Enforcement

Action

The Malaysian Department of Environment (DOE) has contacted the

Romanian Basel Convention authority to arrange the repatriation of the

illegal waste shipment.

Criminal

organisation

Unreported



https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/en-direct-du-monde/la-turquie-nouvelle-poubelle-de-leurope-pour-les-dechets-plastiques-qui-sont-censes-y-etre-recycles_3961483.html




24

Summary 110 containers of toxic electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) were found

abandoned at Malaysia’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) last month. The

discarded waste is of Romanian origin, and was bound for Indonesia,

entering the country illegally.

For more

information,

please visit:

https://resource.co/article/1800-tonnes-illegal-toxic-waste-found-

abandoned-malaysian-port

Case 12. Croatia – Italy - Africa

Title Control actions for cross-border shipments of waste in June

Date 2-7-2020

Type of waste waste tyres

Quantity/Value 13,2 tonnes

Routes From Croatia to Italy with as final destination Africa

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

Illegal shipment of waste

Enforcement

Action

Repatriation of shipment to country of destination, penalty for person who

organized the shipment

Criminal

organisation

Unreported

Summary Illegal shipment of waste tyres (final destination was supposed to be Africa).

Repatriation and alternative recovery of waste was agreed together with

Croatian competent authority.

For more

information,

please visit:

https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-07-02-akcije-nadzora-cezmejnega-

posiljanja-odpadkov-v-mesecu-juniju/

Case 13. Slovenia to Italy

Title Control actions to prevent the negligent management of sanitary

waste, in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19 virus and other

diseases

Date 28-7-2020

Type of waste Non-listed waste

Quantity/ Value 20 tonnes

Routes Slovenia to Italy

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

illegal shipment of waste

Enforcement

Action

Inspection and offence procedure pending

https://resource.co/article/1800-tonnes-illegal-toxic-waste-found-abandoned-malaysian-port

https://resource.co/article/1800-tonnes-illegal-toxic-waste-found-abandoned-malaysian-port


25

Criminal

organisation

Unreported

Summary Illegal shipment of waste sent from Slovenia to Italy because of

inappropriate classification of waste (metals mixed with impurities such as

earth, rubber, plastic) and consequently incorrect use of the procedure for

cross-border shipment of waste.

For more

information,

please visit:

HTTPS://WWW.GOV.SI/NOVICE/2020-07-28-AKCIJE-NADZORA-ZA-

PREPRECEVANJE-MALOMARNEGA-RAVNANJA-S-SANITARNIMI-

ODPADKI-Z-NAMENOM-PREPRECITVE-SIRJENJA-VIRUSA-COVID-19-IN-

DRUGIH-BOLEZNI/

Case 14. Netherlands - Belgium

Title Order subject to penalty for Chemours to prevent a repeat EWSR

violation

Date 1-4-2020

Type of waste GenX waste

Routes The Netherlands to Belgium

Quantity/ Value Unreported

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

Export without the correct permit

Criminal

organisation

One company

Enforcement

action

Order subject to a penalty

Summary A big chemical company has exported waste containing GenX to Belgium

without applying for a new permit. Last year the company also exported

GenX, while it should have had a separate permit not to contaminate other

shipments. Therefore the inspection authorities are imposing an order

subject to a penalty. This is a remedial sanction ordering a legal entity or

natural person to do or not do something. The decision to impose an order

subject to penalty specifies the deadline by which the offence or its

consequences must be remedied, also referred to as the "compliance

period". Failure to carry out the order or to carry it out by the specified

deadline creates an obligation to pay a sum of money, also referred to as

"forfeiture of a penalty".

For more

information,

please visit:

https://www.ilent.nl/onderwerpen/afvaltransport-

evoa/nieuws/2020/04/01/last-onder-dwangsom-voor-chemours-om-

herhaling-evoa-overtreding-te-voorkomen





https://www.ilent.nl/onderwerpen/afvaltransport-evoa/nieuws/2020/04/01/last-onder-dwangsom-voor-chemours-om-herhaling-evoa-overtreding-te-voorkomen




26

Case 15. Italy

Title Environment: illicit trafficking of 'luxury' waste, 8 people arrested

Date 18/6/20

Type of waste Naval waste (waste from luxury ships destroyed during a huge storm)

Routes na

Quantity/ Value 670 tons of untracked waste (from 435 destroyed ships)

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

organized illicit activities for the illicit trafficking of waste, illicit competition,

threat and violent acts, attempted murder and illicit possession of firearms

Criminal

organisation

criminal group composed by entrepreneurs, lawyers and professionals in

the nautical sector

Enforcement

action

8 people arrested. Issued decree for preventive confiscation of 3.6 million

of EUR

Summary The criminal group, made by individuals and companies working in the

nautical sector, was responsible of organizing the transport, storage,

management and illicit disposal of waste coming from the disruption of 435

ships during a violent storm that took place in the region Liguria, in Italy,

back in october 2018. They had put in place a complex system of

management and disposal of illicit waste, gaining almost 3 millions euro. A

key role was played by a subject originally based in Naples, who involved

representatives of Camorra and Ndrangheta to manage the entire illicit

chain, with the final aim of penetrating the licit nautical sector in the north of

Italy.

For more

information,

please visit:

https://www.lasiritide.it/out.php?articolo=17737

Case 16. Italy

Title Waste, illicit trafficking discovered in Palermo. 5 people arrested,

employees from RAP were also involved

13/07/2020 13/07/2020

Type of waste Bulky waste coming from housing-relocations activities

Routes na

Quantity/ Value 1000 tons

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

Illicit trafficking, treatment and disposal

Criminal

organisation

Two criminal groups - involvement of organized crime (Sicilian mafia) and

of public officers working in the waste collection/treatment municipal

company

Enforcement

action

5 people arrested, involvement of public workers from the waste-collection

company


27

Summary The investigation started back in novemeber 2018, after a reporting of illicit

disposal of urban / bulky waste coming from relocation-related activities.

The police discovered a well organized activity of collection, transport,

treatment and finally illicit disposal of waste, hazardous and non-hazardous,

made by two different criminal groups. All the activities were conducted

without legal authorization, and the groups were able to use the dismantling

tools of a public company thanks to the connivance of three public workers

belonging to the company, now dismissed.

For more

information,

please visit:

https://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/07/13/news/rifiuti_scoperto_traf

fico_illecito_a_palermo_arresti_e_sequestri-261786045/

Case 17. Spain

Title 44 people arrested for irregularities in the management of Covid-

related medical waste

Date 19/06/2020

Type of waste Medical waste

Quantity/Value na

Routes na

Enforcement

Action

500 inspections in companies in charge of medical waste: 184

administrative infractions in the management, transport and disposal of

medical waste, especially masks and gloves possibly infected by Covid

Type of crimes/

Modus

Operandi

Illicit management and disposal

Criminal

organisation

300 companies inspected by Guardia Civil

Summary The investigation activities were part of the biggest operation Retrovirus

coordinated by Europol. More than 500 inspections were conducted in

Spain by Guardia Civil, and 184 infractions have been reported with regard

to irregularities in the management, transport and disposal of medical waste

mainly related to the Covid pandemia. These infractions are both dangerous

for the pollution of the ecosystem and for the possible transmission of the

virus.

For more

information,

please visit:

https://www.elperiodico.com/es/sociedad/20200619/operacion-guardia-

civil-detenidos-irregularidades-empresas-gestion-residuos-sanitarios-

coronavirus-8006089


28

Annex III: IGO Enforcement Actions Operation RETROVIRUS

Organisation EUROPOL, EnviCrimeNet and national authorities including the

Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for the Environment and Spatial

Planning

Date 27-7-2020

Summary The joint RETROVIRUS operation is coordinated by EUROPOL in

cooperation with the EnviCrimeNet network. In addition to the

representatives of the Inspectorate for the Environment and Nature,

representatives of the FURS and the Police also participate in operational

joint inspections. Operation RETROVIRUS aims to prevent

"inappropriate" / illegal collection, transport, management and

management of sanitary waste (contrary to international, EU and national

legislation and international conventions) for activities against the spread

and treatment of the COVID epidemic 19.

Link https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-07-02-akcije-nadzora-cezmejnega-

posiljanja-odpadkov-v-mesecu-juniju/




29

Annex IV: Videos and documentaries

Title Why is UK recycling being dumped by Turkish roadsides?

Organisatio

n

Basel Action Network

Type of

waste

Plastic

Date 26-6-2020

Summary An investigation by BBC News has found that some plastic waste from Britain (160,000 tonnes) sent to Turkey for recycling is instead being dumped and burned on the side of roads. The UK sends more plastic waste to Turkey than to any other country, but critics say the country doesn't have the capacity to recycle its own waste, let alone the tens of thousands of tonnes being sent from overseas.

Link https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-53181948/why-is-uk-recycling-being-

dumped-by-turkish-roadsides

Title Unauthorized landfills, full of Belgian waste dumped illegally, pollute

French Lorraine

Organisatio

n

France 2

Type of

waste

Rubber and household waste

Date 25-6-2020

Summary Several hundred tons of rubber and other household waste were dumped

illegally in a dozen villages in Lorraine by a Belgian transporter at the request

of a customer, a Belgian waste collection centre which believed to send its

cargoes of waste to a French waste sorting centre, managed by a Lyon

company, whose director says not being aware of such an agreement and

denies having issued the delivery notes that he considers falsified. All these

players were put in touch by an intermediary who admits having earned

between "200 and 220,000 euros" with this transport of waste but denies

having falsified the order forms and claims to have been the victim of another

intermediary.

Link https://www.demotivateur.fr/article/des-centaines-de-tonnes-de-dechets-

illegaux-provenant-de-belgique-deverses-a-la-frontiere-francaise-21470

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-53181948/why-is-uk-recycling-being-dumped-by-turkish-roadsides

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-53181948/why-is-uk-recycling-being-dumped-by-turkish-roadsides



Documents

WasteForce Crime Alert #7